One of the Biggest Keys To Networking: Finding Information Out About the Other Person

Networking has proven to be an effective business tool and can be beneficial if done properly. Meeting people and developing these relationships can lead to a brighter future down the road. Meeting new people does take a little bit of practice and starting a conversation from scratch is not as hard as it seems. One of the biggest keys to developing a relationship from the start is taking time to listen to the other person and learning about him or her.

At networking events, it's usually easy to move around and meet several different people. Take time to maneuver around the room a bit and talk to several different types of people there. It's not always possible to know everyone but try and take time to get to know the different people who are attending the event.

When you start conversing with someone, try to avoid providing your whole life story in 30 seconds. If you enjoy your work, it is easy to get carried away on that topic and talk more about yourself instead of getting to know the other person. Talking too much about yourself can be a bit of a turnoff to someone and might bore the person you are talking to as well.

As a way to get to know the other person, start asking questions about what he or she does, hobbies, how he or she joined the organization hosting the event, etc. This way, it gets the person to open up a bit and provides you an opportunity to listen and learn more. I'm not saying to make it a game of 20 Questions and try to avoid too many yes and no questions. Take this as an opportunity to learn more about the other person and find common ground that might be there.

Networking is key but taking time to know the people you meet with is just as important!

ABBC- Always Bring Business Cards

Networking is one of the most powerful tools in business today but a surprising number of people forget to bring a valuable item when going to networking events; business cards. Even though it makes sense, there are many different networking and social events out there in which people forget to bring business cards.

These events are great opportunities to meet people but how are you supposed to be remembered if you don't have any information to leave with the people you are conversing with?

Whenever you go to a networking event, social or business-oriented function, take a fair number of business cards with you. You never know who you may run across as these events, who can be a valuable contact and the doors that can open up from these interactions so make sure you have your business cards with you. With the number of people that attend, it's best to leave the people you talk to a card with your contact information for future reference. The people you meet may end up with a lot of business cards towards the end of the night but your will be in the pile if you provide one.

If you are currently unemployed, it's understandable if you don't have a current business card, however, you can obtain business cards for this use. One of the most popular web-sites to go to for personal business cards is www.vistaprint.com, where you can design your own business cards and get a certain number of them for free. This web-site has helped a lot of different job seekers get business cards when they needed it and can provide you with the same benefits as well. Taking time to design these cards is worth the investment and having these available at a networking event can help key people you meet remember who you are.

Even though it can seem like a hassle, there are ways in which you can carry business cards efficiently and effectively. Sometimes having a case full of them in your pocket, wallet or purse makes them easy to pull out when you need it. Others will carry them in a shirt pocket for easy access and other simply keep them in a coat or pants pocket. Carrying these is easier then you think and it's always good to make sure they are accessible.

Whenever you go to a business function or networking event, remember ABBC, Always Bring Business Cards!

Map Out What You Want Your Resume To Look After Four Years

For college students, having a great resume is not only crucial for when you graduate but when you apply for internships as well. Your resume is an opportunity to provide a snapshot for a potential employer or internship supervisor a reason why he or she should bring you in for an interview. These people are looking for people who can help them succeed, reach their goals and have a drive to learn. Taking the time to map out what you want this piece of paper to look like during your college years will help you get your foot in the door when you need it the most.

Even though it might sound odd, taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume will pay off later on. This will help you plan what type of internships to go after, what work and professional experience you want to have under your belt, and how to reach these goals. This will help you decide where you want to go in your college career, what you want to work towards and how you are going to get there.

By taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume, you will set goals for yourself and create a polished resume that could look enticing to a potential employer when you graduate. Having a resume that shows internships, work and leadership experiences will show a potential employer when you graduate that you were active, outgoing and willing to learn. This will help set you apart from a lot of the other resumes that will come through there and increase your chances of getting a call for an interview. Having mapped out these experiences will also provide different successes to talk about during your interview.

Even though it might seem odd mapping out your resume, taking the time to do so will help you succeed later on. This will give you goals to reach for, find what you want to achieve in and outside of college and provide great experience for when you need to look for your first job out of college. Take the time to figure out what path your resume to take.

College Seniors: Take Advantage of Opportunities, Take Time To Help Others and Enjoy the Ride

For many of you who will be graduating college soon, the thought of leaving a fun environment for the so called "real world" can be intimidating. Leaving what is comfortable and joining the work force to start your career is scary and difficult but not impossible. Being able to adjust to your life outside of college can start with the internships, networking and friendship you make during your senior year.

In several months, many of you will have to venture out and find your first job. There will be job interviews, resumes, handshakes, and lots of different pieces that play part in the job seeking process. Finding a job right out of college can be difficult but isn't impossible.

During your senior year, take time to intern and network with professionals in the area. Internships provide valuable real life experience that can put you a step ahead of others in the job search process. This also provides you an opportunity to become friends and meet mentors who can serve as references and guides later on during your search. Some campuses hold different networking events where you can meet professionals from the area. Taking advantage of these events can help you meet people who can help mentor your along the way and may even have a position available when you graduate. When presented the opportunity, take the time to intern and network with professionals who can guide you down your path of success.

In addition to networking, take the opportunity to mentor younger students in your field of study. At this point, you've had almost four years to develop the talents you had when you came in as a freshman and taking the time to help others will help develop relationships and teach you to be a team player. Many of the freshmen and even sophomores appreciate a senior taking the time to share knowledge, expertise and advice. Many of them have goals like you have at one point or another and they will never forget the friend who took the time to help them along the way.

By taking the time to mentor, it will also provide you with friendships and a reason to keep in touch with others as you make the transition into your professional career. Being able to talk to these friends on the phone, online, on Facebook, etc. will help relieve some of the stress and anxiety you might be feeling from leaving college. It also means a lot to these people that someone is taking time out of his or her day to keep tabs on how they are doing and it will be appreciated in the long run.

During your senior year, you will have opportunities to intern, network and mentor so take advantage. The relationships you build through interning, networking and mentoring others can help make the transition easier and prepare you for life outside of college.

College Students: Take Time To Support Other Campus Functions and Events

Taking time to learn the campus and the environment is important during freshmen year. It's important to learn what events are popular, how to get involved, and meeting people at different types of functions. It's easy to stay within your comfort zone but take time to enjoy a diverse group of activities. Similar to the phrase "never judge a book by its cover," never judge an event by the advertisement on the outside.

During your freshmen year and beyond, take time to experience different events you may not have gone to otherwise before starting college. If your school has a big arts program, take time to see the musicals, plays and other instrumental performances on campus. If your school has a big fine art program, take time to visit student art exhibitions. If you have never really been to a sports event, take time to go to a football game, basketball, etc. Going to these events will help take you out of your dorm room and help you interact with others on campus. You may also be surprised as to what you might find enjoying!

In addition t0 providing different ways to socialize with others, taking time to experience events can serve as a pleasant diversion and method to relax. For example, during my time at Otterbein College, taking time to watch some of my friends perform in a instrumental concert or one of the musicals served as a nice diversion. It was always fun to do something different, it was an opportunity to support my friends and it helped make my experience on campus more meaningful. For me, going to these events also served as a getaway and helped me wind down when I needed it the most.

When you are looking for something to do, consider going to events that might be outside your normal interest level. You may find it relaxing to experience something else your campus has to offer and helps you support another group of people. Taking time to enjoy these events can help make your experience more meaningful and provide different ways to socialize as well.

The Importance of Saying Thank You

Whether you are a college student interviewing for an internship or a seasoned professional interviewing for a job, one of the most important aspects of interviewing is taking time to say thank you. The person you are interviewing with is taking time out of his or her day to learn about you, how you can help his or her business and possibly provide you with experience you will need in your career. Not saying thank you for this opportunity could be costly and can eliminate you from future opportunities.

When internships or job candidates do not say thank you for the interview, it often frowned upon and could eliminate you from contention. This person is taking time out of his or her day to sit down with you and not taking the time to say thank you can turn him or her off from wanting to hire you. The person interviewing you did not have to bring you in for an interview in the first place so not saying thank you can leave a bad impression.

After you interview, make it a habit to send a hand-written thank you note and an e-mail (if you have it) to thank the person for his or her time. Not many candidates take time to say thank you so sending a hand-written note (or typed) will set you apart from most other candidates. This will show the person you interviewed with that you do care, you are interested and you were grateful for the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation. This shows you are willing to take the extra effort to thank someone for his or her time and can put you in a positive light.

Even though it might seem tedious, taking the time to say thank you is important in the interview process. If someone is taking time out of his or her day to discuss a possible internship or position with you, it's important you show your gratitude and appreciation. Taking a few moments to write a note will show this person you care about the opportunity and can set you apart from other candidates. Take the time to say thank you and it can help land you in the right spot later on.

College Students: Plan Your Four Years and What You Want To Accomplish

If you are a college student, your college career will bring you valuable experience not only in the classroom but with what you do outside of the classroom as well. You have four years ahead of you to build up real life experience for potential employers when you graduate and it's important you make the most of it at this time. The time you spend inside and outside of the classroom, the activities you are involved with and the relationships you build will set the foundation you need to succeed when your college career is over.

Even though it takes time, planning your four years of college and what you want to accomplish is important for success in the "real world." Taking time to determine where and how many internships to do, what activities to get involved in and the types of relationships you want to build will help you make the transition from college to the working world.

When making up your plan, consider the following:

1) What Organizations on Campus Can I Be Apart of That Can Provide Experience Related to my Major? - This will help you get experience and connections you will need when interviewing for internships and possibly a job later on. This will provide you with experience you can use to prove to others you have the skills necessary for a particular internship or job. Getting involved in these organizations can also put you in touch with classmates or other connections on campus.

2) What Types of Internships Can Help Me Get the Experience I Need? Not every major is the same but the purpose of getting an internship is to get real-life experience in a learning setting. Don't simply take an internship just to get a bullet point on the resume; get as much experience and knowledge from that internship so it can boost your skill set for later on. Take time to determine which types of internships would benefit you the most and figure out a way to apply for them.

3) How Can I Learn to Network With Professionals in My Field of Study? The relationships you build in college can help open the doors for internships and even jobs later on down the line. Learn to network and find different ways to connect with professionals in your field while you are a student. Not many students take the time to ask professionals for advice and the people you will want to build relationships have been in your shoes before.

4) What Do I Want My Resume to Look Like My Senior Year? This will help map out where you want to go and how to get there. It might seem like a bizarre question but this will help you plan where you want to go.